February's Thai Abundance Bowl

Can you feel the shift in light as we enter February? I notice the sky a bit brighter as leave in the morning and more light floods the clinic room at the end of the day with my last client.

The earth is slowly waking up and with it, you may notice the foods you are drawn to will change.

Our digestive systems aren’t quite ready for daily raw salads, for those of us still in winter, yet the colours of spring are dancing into our palate and minds.

Here is our families new favourite meal. It shows up on the menu every Wednesday.

We call it the Thai Abundance Bowl, inspired by Oh She Glows Thai Almond butter sauce with some modifications by our Thai friend and sitter. Use this one to clear out what is in your fridge… here is our favourite version.

Enjoy!

Thai Almond Butter Sauce

3/4 Cup Almond Butter (If nut free sunflower seed butter)
4 TBSP Lime Juice
2 TBSP Gluten Free Tamari or coconut Aminos
3 tsp Maple Syrup
3 tsp grated Fresh Ginger
3 TBSP almond milk/ coconut milk from a can/ water as needed to thin
1/2 - 1 clove of garlic (optional. Leave out if following Gaps)
1 TBSP Cilantro (optional- you can add it into the bowl instead if you want)

Throw it all in the blender and then put in a mason jar to store in the fridge for up to 11 days. I usually double the batch for easy left over lunches.

Bowl Ingredients

• As a base we use:

  • Brown rice

  • Quinoa

• Shredded purple cabbage

• Shredded carrots

• Baked Tofu or left over salmon

• Chopped cilantro (load it up… so delish)

• Steamed broccoli (leftover works)

• Left over sautéed mushrooms (play with wild mushrooms if you want!)

• Fresh Broccoli Sprouts

• Chopped up Arugula or Kale

• Raw Pumpkin Seeds pan fried with coconut oil and sea salt (honestly the crunch makes the difference!)
  

After you put it all together, squeeze a lime overtop and Enjoy!

Soil Regeneration, Microbiome & Rise in Autoimmune Disease

Dr. Zach Bush's work on the microbiome, regeneration of soil, autoimmune disease and the impact of glyphosates on wellness is pertinent right now, at a time when we need to support equal access to the building blocks of health, regardless of socio-economic status.  There are staggering numbers for our overall decline in fertility, both male and female factor.

Dr. Zach Bush, MD is a triple board certified physician specializing in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, as well as in Hospice and Palliative care. The director of M Clinic in Virginia, Dr. Bush has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in the areas of infectious disease, endocrinology, and cancer.

I have listened to him speak on a number of occasions, each time with new awareness and call to action. Having grown up through the summers on our family farm, this has me understanding even more deeply that we are what we eat, down to the soil and seeds that are used to grow our food and our bodies.

I would encourage you to watch this video and visit his website www.zachbushmd.com.

He is founder of Farmers Footprint, an organization connecting and inviting regenerative farming practices so that we can turn back the damage on our nutrient deprived soil. You can find more information about Farmer’s Footprint here: www.farmersfootprint.us

Nourishing Your Body Though Covid-19

Wow. It feels like a year since I have seen most of you in the clinic, not a few weeks.  

We are navigating an unprecedented time for our generation. Some of you are on the front lines supporting and caring for those who are ill, others are supporting in their communities and families.  All of you have an ability to create light in what feels like a dark time. Yet let's also not be afraid of the dark.  That is where growth happens and seeds are planted.  If you aren't on the front lines, stay home, connect with your families and as my Grandmother said, "Look for the people helping Leisha...that is where you will see love surpass fear."

I wanted to share a video I put together for More Gatherings on COVID-19, self care, and supportive measures you can take at home.  This won't be new to most of you as I talk about this in the clinic with you almost each session!  Yet a reminder never hurts.

I also wanted to let you know that I have tested out video appointments with clients this week.  We did our check-in at the beginning as always, and then I guided the client through a meditation for the last half of the call, focussing on what support their individual body needed. The feedback was positive and all three clients liked the format and felt grounded and in flow by the closure of our session.  If you are wanting support, I am offering this in a few blocks per week to start and will expand from there depending on family needs at home.

For the next month, I will be donating half of session fees to Made By Mama, a local non profit organization supporting single mothers facing adversity.  If you have been impacted by COVID-19 or are dealing with symptoms, reach out to 811, then please reach out and I can do my best to support you.

I am aiming to individually connect with each of you over the next bit in-between homeschooling (which has consisted of 85% recess and 15 percent work - I clearly wasn't cut out to be a teacher and BLESS our teachers!).

In the interim, here are a few resources available that could be helpful:

Fitness/ Movement: 

• On instagram: Fran Train Fitness - a great guy that I do group workouts with when I am home on the Island.  He has been posting doable workouts each day.

• Yoga Santosha is doing live streaming yoga Classes. www.yogasantosha.ca

• Orange Theory Fitness is offering online workouts (I haven't done these yet), yet I do like their classes!  www.orangetheoryfitness.com

Meditation

• Daring to Rest- Karen Brody - www.daringtorest.com

• Headspace - is offering free meditations for the next while

• Calm App and Insight Timer both offer free selections

• Depak Chopra and Oprah have a free 21 day meditation Hope in uncertain times - www.chopracentermeditation.com/experience

• Joint effort with the Dalai Lama and Stanford University - www.ccare.stanford.edu

Connection

• Next-door in our neighbourhood (an app connecting neighbours) has been a great source for knowing what is happening in your community and who may need help (essentials like medication and groceries dropped on the porch, etc)

• If you have a few people you feel connected to in your life, reach out and meet them for a virtual meditation.  Set a time, Light a candle of connection each and "meet" in meditation.  If you want to take that further, set the intension to send love, "hold the hand" of those alone and afraid, be it in Italy or around the world.  COVID-19 is showing us how fully connected we all are.  Let's use this in support of our own circles and those beyond.  

• FaceTime meetups with your inner support circles or those who might be showing up unexpectedly!

Please reach out if you have any questions or need support.  Sending a virtual hug to you all.
Be Well,
Leisha

Bone Broth Magic

My fondest memories of growing up were usually on my grandmothers farm. More specifically in her kitchen, which housed a rocking chair, couch, big table for gathering and wood stove that was constantly running. Both to keep us warm and cook her nourishing food.

The one constant was a pot of bone broth simmering away through the day to make the next stew, meal or simply to drink and ward of the sniffles. As is often the case, our grandparents farm wisdom was rooted in knowing which science is now showing in research.

Part of what I love about making stock for our family, is that I feel my grandmother in the kitchen with me. A cup of tea in hand, fussing about making sure everyone is loved and cared for. Smell is so powerful, it brings me right back to the farm kitchen.

Now it is time to pay forward that tradition to my children.

Bone broths help support your immune system, nourishes your joints, nourishes and helps heal the gut lining which can support reducing allergies, food intolerances and GI symptoms, just to name a few benefits. From a Chinese medicine view, it also nourishes the kidneys which is something I will do with most clients working with me.

Its simple to make:

• Place approximately 2 lbs of left over chicken bones (or the left overs from a whole chicken) into a deep soup pot

• Add chicken feet if you have them for extra collagen.

• Add left over celery ends, carrots, onion, herbs (I keep left over ends in the freezer and pull them out when I am making broth)

• 2 Tbsp apple cider (helps to extract marrow from the bones)

• Two inches of ginger cut (warming, aids digestion and flavour filled)

1. Fill the pot with water so that the bones are covered by 3 inches of water.
2. Bring to a boil and then simmer until it is just slightly bubbling.

The length of time to cook varies.

For those who tend toward histamine responses, shortening the cooking time initially to 1.5- 3 hrs is helpful.

Otherwise, 24 hours simmering works.

Same recipe for beef except use beef marrow, knuckles and stewing bones. I don’t add ginger to Beef stock. Simmer beef bones for 4-5 hours for those with histamine issues, 24 hours if none. Note: I like to roast my beef bones and onion for 20 min before adding to the pot for more flavour!

Aim to drink a mugful a day through the winter months or when you are feeling run down. Otherwise, freeze it and use it when you make soups and stews!

There are great resources on line. One of my most loved and used books is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.